Bognor junior lands Sussex golf title

Congratulations go to Harry Isham, who at the tender age of 12 and playing off a 16 handicap, put together an impressive 41 points playing at the very wet Mid-Sussex GC course.

All his hard work and perseverance over the winter, working with club professional Matt Kirby, was worth it.

On a very cold and blustery day a 90 brave men turned out for Bognor’s first major – the Easter medal.

Considering conditions, the scoring was excellent, with numerous sub-par rounds. The overall winner was Alan Cramp with a score of 88 gross (64 nett). Second was Dave Wood with 74 (66) and third Peter Hammond with 81 (66).

Results - Div 1 - 1 Dave Wood nett 66, 2 Richard Longhurst 67, 3 Andy Field 68, Div 2 - 1 Peter Hammond 66, 2 Paul Brennan 71, 3 Cameron Lang 71, Div 3 - 1 Alan Cramp 64, 2 Ian Martin 68, 3 Simon Gear 69.

Bognor seniors made the short trip to Littlehampton and suffered a 6-2 drubbing. Highlights for Bognor were Richard Kaemana and Ian Bright’s excellent 6&5 win.

As usual Littlehampton were superb hosts and Bognor’s players soon forgot the scores and enjoyed the hosts’ company.

It was Bognor’s new seniors’ captain Jim Catt’s first game in charge and he threw down the gauntlet to Bognor to perform in the return match in September.

Results: Jim Catt & Bryan Madgwick lost 2 down to Malcolm Miller & John Ludlow, Chris Hickling & Ernest Bridger lost 5&4 to Russell Ixer & Geoff Spooner, David Turner & Ken Catt lost 2 down to Alan Coonbs & Tony Buckle, Richard Kaemena & Ian Bright won 6&5 v John Luke & Steve Gunner, Andy Isitt & Terry Kuhler lost 3&1 to Dickie Burt & John Grove, Mike Oates & Clive Millett lost 5&3 to Peter Morris & Andy Bayford, Alan Ftzgerald & Trevor Till won 4&2 v Nigel Smith & Pat Barrett, Roger Selway & Mike Watts lost 2&1 to Roly Steele & Peter Harris

A division-three home match against The Dyke Golf Club resulted in a 5-2 win for Bognor ladies.

Other results for the ladies’ section: Team Alliance: 1 J Chamberlain, A Chandler, J Finch & S Sidebotham, 2 S Doughty, J Ireland, E Morris, J Phillmore, 3 A Bushell, D Duquemin, D Rumsby & J Russell. Triple 6 Pairs: 1 J Chamberlain & S Sidebotham, 2 A Allen & M Martin, 3 L Miller & A Bushell, 4 C Puddicombe & S Sargeant. Ladies’ Stableford: Silver Division: 1 S Monger, 2 S James, 3 L Serle, 4 B Samuels. Bronze A: 1 S Sidebotham, 2 D Fenton, 3 S Cameron. Bronze B: 1 M Delves, 2 E Morris. Bronze C: 1 V Cole, 2 J Smith.

CHICHESTER

Chichester veterans continued their season with a home match against near neighbours Goodwood.

It was the warmest day of the year as well and players saw the driest conditions on the Cathedral course for some time. An exciting match ensued with four of the games going to the 18th green and the visitors prevailed 3½-2½.

The Jim Robertson Trophy, won last year by Chichester, goes to the team with the best aggregate results over the home and away matches and Goodwood have taken a big stride to winning it this year . It will require a Herculean effort by Chichester to come back in the return leg in September.

Scores: J Robertson & C Goldsmid lost to C Mautby & M Walsh 1 down; B Sharpe & C Penny lost to J Dixon & A Filton 4&3; P Mitchell & N Moore lost to T Till & D Honeybourne 2 down; N Hobbs & D Pattison beat M Huckell & C Hunt 2&1; G Probert & N Wood beat R Hoad & D Curling 1 up; M Hunter & A Grant halved with V D’Costa & J Drury.

There were good conditions for the first vets medal of the year and 11 of the 54 entrants achieved handicap or better.

The overall winner of the medal was Phil Couchman who held his nerve to record a three-under nett 68. The ensuing pack were just one behind.

Ken Jackson and Ray Harding both made unfortunate double bogeys on their last hole while Roy Harding suffered even more with a triple bogey.

Chris Penny started the last hole in a leading position only to have an uncharacteristic disaster with a nine which took him out of all the prizes. Medal result - Winner Phil Couchman 68 nett; Cat 2/3 - 2nd Ken Jackson 69; 3rd Nick Hobbs 69. Cat 4 Winner Ray Harding 69; 2nd Roy Harding 69; 3rd Paul Hills 70.

A traditional Texas scramble was played before the winter prizegiving and, after rain, the course was not easy. Best team on the day was Graham Probert, Don Hagell and David Blythe who won by more than a point with a nett 63.2.

Prizegiving winners - Eclectic Cat 4 Winner Don Hagell nett 61; Cat 2/3 Winner Pete Collyer 61; Winter Singles Winner - Robert Stainsby; Winter League Winners - Chris Penny & Chris Page; Remembrance Day Shield -Nigel Wood.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray seniors won their first home game of the season 4-2 against their good friends and rivals from Ham Manor.

As always in this fixture, the camaraderie and sportsmanship make the result immaterial.

Match manager Terry Adsett and seniors’ vice-captain Mike Hughes teamed up well for a comfortable 6&4 win in the opening match, followed immediately by Dave Darby and Ken Marjoram with a 5&3 win.

Ham Manor stemmed the flow with a half, a win and another half before Trevor Edwards and Jim Booth clinched victory for the home side with a 4&2 win.

Booth played superbly early on and kept his side in it and they were only one down at the turn before the Cowdray pair found their form and won four consecutive holes early on in the back nine to close out the win.

Results: (Cowdray names first): Terry Adsett & Mike Hughes beat Gerry Casey & Jim Miller 6&4; Dave Darby & Ken Marjoram beat John Barr & Steve Tellyn 5&3; Roger Poat & Bill Hummerston halved with Keith Dryden & Alan Orr; Colin West & Richard Burden lost to John Baker & Garry Sykes 2&1; Mike Cardiff & George Crouch halved with Simon Davies & Wayne Donaldson; Trevor Edwards & Jim Booth beat Bob Hutchings & Bob Potter 4&2.

Cowdray seniors met stiffer resistance from their visitors from Mannings Heath, who won the final match to force a 4-4 draw.

After a defeat in the opening match for match manager Ian Heustice and Wally Mitchell, the hosts raised their game to win the next two matches courtesy of John Doran and Barry Overington (3&1) and Dave Coombes and Mark Kelly (4&2).

As one of several new members of the seniors’ section representing Cowdray Park, Richard Burden, who had been a member of Mannings Heath for 30 years, teamed up with the in-form Jim Booth to record an impressive 4&3 win.

Another new member of the section, Bill Birnie, together with Mike Cardiff, scored a commendable 2&1 win, putting the home side one up with one match remaining. The visitors, however, dug deep and won the final match by one hole to even up the scores at 4-4.

Results (Cowdray names first): Ian Heustice & Wally Mitchell lost to Richard Pugh & Gerry Woods 5&3; John Doran & Barry Overington beat Paul Holmes & Graham Wyatt 3&1; Dave Coombes & Mark Kelly beat Steve Parker & Mike Pearson 4&2; Mike Holden & Bruce Spooner lost to Phil Davies & Chris Fernie 3&1; Richard Burden & Jim Booth beat Andy Watson & Norman Bayne 4&3; John Fife & George Crouch lost to Phil Andrews & Allan Wild 4&3; Bill Birnie & Mike Cardiff beat Bob Binning & John Hastings 2&1; John Durrell & Ian Gunn lost to Peter Ireland & Eddie Searles 1 down.

Cowdray’s Golf Academy hosts an open weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

Hosted by their PGA professionals, it is the perfect way to see what golf at Cowdray is all about.

Features include a chance to have a go at golf, free coaching, free use of the par-three course, free club hire, an opportunity to try the championship course for free and the launch of the new academy membership.

Call Tim Allen on 01730 813599 or email [email protected] with inquiries.

LITTLEHAMPTON

The popular Gents Dinner Cup was as eagerly contested as ever on the links at Littlehampton Golf Club with the winners on countback being Graham Gain and Lee Meyer.

Their 39 stableford points total in the foursomes format was enough to take the title on countback after the pair had tied with Paul Hunt and Sid Minton. Paul Groves and Ken Rixon were placed third one point further back on 38 points.

Sixty eight members took part and in line with tradition enjoyed a black tie three course meal in the clubhouse the night before, followed by foursomes golf the next day.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking sports news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

Share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!